Mitch Gettman planted the seeds for his musical life in Omaha, while in front of a video camera, strumming renditions of songs he liked.

Those YouTube videos of a teenaged Gettman playing Radiohead, Jeff Buckley and Elliott Smith covers more than four years ago have quickly spilled over into original songs, Omaha-are club gigs and his first full-length album, We Are The Mad Ones.

Those who wonder what spawned Omaha indie band So-So Sailors' thoughtful, piano-driven rock need look no further than frontman Chris Machmuller's other band, Ladyfinger.

Tucked toward the end of Ladyfinger's last collection of rowdy screamers titled Dusk is a chugging rocker called “Plans” that sports a gorgeous, arcing piano line. The rather wordy song features Machmuller doing something he rarely does on...

Singer-songwriter-turntable artist SA Martinez is a cog in the successful rock band 311 that started in Omaha 21 years ago and is still going strong today from its Southern Calif.-base. Recordings and national tours keep the group, whose founding members remain intact, a popular draw.

While he’s reached musical heights, SA is not the first professional musician in his family. His father Ernie Martinez and late...